Hold onto your Mickey ears, Disney fans! Big changes are afoot at Walt Disney World this summer, and they’re set to make your magical trips even MORE enchanting. The curtain has come down on Disney Genie+, ushering in a new era of innovation and excitement at the most magical place on Earth. Let’s take a magical journey through what these changes will mean for you and how they’ll make your Disney experience even more memorable.
Bye-Bye, Disney Genie+!
Disney Genie+ was introduced as a paid service that allowed guests to book Lightning Lane access for their favorite attractions. While it certainly had its fans, it also had its flaws. Many guests expressed frustration with waking up early to book Lightning Lanes, the inability to plan them before the trip, and feeling like they were constantly on their phones in the park. Because of this feedback, Disney has decided to wave the magic wand and say goodbye to Genie+ and bonjour to something (hopefully) even better: Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Hello, Lightning Lane Multi Pass!
What has changed? The end of Disney Genie+ is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Starting July 24, 2024 Disney is rolling out a series of enhancements designed to make your park visits more seamless, enjoyable, and, of course, magical! Here’s a sneak peek of the changes in store:
1. Pre-plan up to three experiences per day (WDW ONLY) One of the most exciting changes is the ability to pre-plan up to three Lightning Lanes per day for all Walt Disney World guests. That’s right! No more setting those 7:00am alarms to try and be the first to grab an in-demand Lightning Lane! Disney is bringing back the magic of advance Lightning Lane reservations, allowing everyone to better plan their park days and sleep a little later on vacation! Each eligible guest will soon be able to pre-select three experiences per day with a specified return window.
- Guests of eligible resorts can purchase and begin pre-planning up to seven days before their check-in date for the length of their stay (up to 14 days). Eligible resorts include Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, and Shades of Green Resort guests.
- Guests with date-based tickets and other forms of admission (Annual passholder, non-dated tickets etc.) will be able to pre-plan three days before the start of their visit.
2. Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass:
Under the previous Genie+ system, guests could purchase Genie+ to access the Lightning Lane for multiple rides in the park but had to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane to ride select in-demand rides in each park that were not included with Genie+:
- Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios
- Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train and Tron in Magic Kingdom
- Guardians of the Galaxy in Epcot
- Avatar Flight of Passage in Animal Kingdom
From everything we can tell this process will remain the same. Guests can now purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass (formerly Genie+) for entrance to select experiences during a specified window (one per experience, per day). And if guests would like to purchase the Lightning Lane for an in-demand attraction they can purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass (up to two per day) for a given experience. Lightning Lane Single Passes can not be purchased in advance, only on the day of your visit.
3. Choose experiences and times BEFORE purchasing
One HUGE perk of the new system will be the ability to see what you’re getting before purchasing the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass. Under the old Genie+ system guests were required to purchase Genie+ before selecting their experiences and knowing what they were going to get. Now, guests will be able to select their attractions and return times before paying, giving them more confidence as to where their money is going.
I believe these changes will improve the guest experience at Walt Disney World, and I’m so excited to pre-plan my lightning lanes for my next trip! But, if this change has you feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry, we are here to help! As a travel agent for our sister company, Smart Moms Travel, I stay up to date on everything you need to know to have a magical experience. My travel planning services are free to you and I’m here to help you throughout your entire planning process. Fill out this short form to connect with me! If you’re already working with a Smart Moms Travel Agent, have no fear, you’re in great hands! Reach out to your agent today to discuss what this change means for your trip!
Change is a constant at Disney, and each evolution brings new opportunities for fun and adventure. The end of Genie+ is just the beginning of another exciting chapter in the Walt Disney World story. You can rest easy knowing that Disney is dedicated to creating the most magical experiences for its guests, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
So, get ready to embrace the new, enjoy the unexpected, and make the most of your Disney adventure. The magic is always evolving, and the best is yet to come!
